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I said in my review of Ultimate Avengers how pumped I was that a second one was coming out in just a few months. Well, Ultimates II was just released and Marvel/Lionsgate did NOT let me down.
Ultimates II takes place just a few months after the first one ends. Captain America is still reeling and lost after being frozen for 40 + years. He has written off the rest of the team and is off fighting most of the battles by himself.
Giant Man and Wasp are still having the worst comic book relationship ever. Giant Man who’s still pissed that he couldn’t think of a better name than Giant Man takes his insecurities out on his wife and their relationship is falling apart.
Meanwhile, Bruce Banner (The Hulk) is locked up in solitary because he destroyed most of Manhattan at the end of the first film and his girly Betty Ross refuses to see him.
Thor and Iron Man are off on their own doing whatever it is Avengers do when they’re not saving the world.
So the team is not in the best shape.
Off in the African nation of Wakanda, the aliens from the first film are trying to storm the capital. But for what appears to be a primitive nation, they are holding off the aliens pretty well. Their king is also their superhero, the Black Panther, and he leads his people and fends off any intruders (and still has time to be a family man).
Well, in walks Herr Kleiser, a former Nazi who killed many of Caps buddies in WWII who also happens to be the leader of the aliens, and he kills the King/Black Panther right in front of his son, the prince of Wakanda. The prince then takes on the role of King/Black Panther and asks the Avengers for help in fending off the alien invasion.
The team puts their problems aside and swoops in to save the day.
A good plot and lots of action. That’s what this movie has. I said I enjoyed the original film but I was waiting to get past the origin story before I could pass judgment on the franchise. Well, here comes part 2 of the story and I loved every minute of it.
The writing and story of this film are strong and keep you engaged even though this is a cartoon based on a comic book. Keeping with the trend of Justice League, the heroes in these films have real life problems. They are not just 2-D, ass-kicking heroes without any problems.
The voice acting is superb. No well known people, but the voices all fit the characters like a glove.
Finally, the action. There is not a ton of action in this film (which is fine, this allows the story and characters to grow) but what the movie lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality.
ON THE DVD:
The Ultimates featurette is great because it tells the story of the Ultimates from its inception as a comic all the way through the making of both films. Both the artist and the writer of the comics give long, informative interviews.
A gag reel. Yes, an animated film has a gag reel. Basically, it’s the film with new dialogue dubbed over it. There is a very funny running gag with Iron Man, who keeps telling everyone to go to his favorite place for ribs. “Hulk no like ribs!”
But the real gem. Previews for two new Marvel/Lionsgate animated features: Dr. Strange and IRON MAN!!!!!!!! I love Iron Man. Other than Spidey and X-men, Iron Man was right on top of my comic book stack. Now their doing an entire film based on him. I love it! So, anyway, here is my favorite screenshot from Ultimates 2. Iron Man takes off the standard yellow and red suit and dons the grey and black WAR MACHINE for most of the film:
FINAL ANALYSIS! For comic book fans, cartoon fans, Justice League fans and kids at heart, this is a fabulous movie. It puts most live action superhero movies to shame (Superman Returns, I’m looking right at you blue boy!) With great characters, stories and action I say go see this right now.
SEE THIS MOVIE!!!